Labour only tinkering with the edges on social housing says Ahmed

6.16.00pm GMT Wed 27th Jan 2010

Farid Ahmed, discussing housing problems in Walthamstow.

"We can only start to solve the housing crisis by investing serious money," said local campaigner Farid Ahmed

Commenting on the Governments announcement of extra funding for choice based lettings schemes, Farid Ahmed said:   

"After years of ignoring social housing, the Government's neglect is strangling the job market.  But a few house swaps is not going to deal with the misery faced by millions of families stuck on housing waiting lists.

"People don't want a house swap with someone on the other side of the country, they need a home where they already live and have family and work connections.

"As usual, Labour and the Conservatives are tinkering at the edges of the problem rather than taking radical action to improve things.

"We can only start to solve the housing crisis by investing serious money.  A £1.4bn empty homes fund would bring a quarter of a million problem properties back into use, and create much-needed jobs in the construction industry."